--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have fewer rights because you are a…" description: "\"You have fewer rights because you are a minority. Absolutely, that’s how democracy works.\" — Jacob Zuma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/jacob-zuma-10526_democracy_you-have-fewer-rights-because-you-are-a_914249.png" --- # You have fewer rights because you are a minority… ![“You have fewer rights because you are a minority. Absolutely, that’s how democracy works.” quote by Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/jacob-zuma-10526_democracy_you-have-fewer-rights-because-you-are-a_914249.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/jacob-zuma-10526_democracy_you-have-fewer-rights-because-you-are-a_914249.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/jacob-zuma-10526_democracy_you-have-fewer-rights-because-you-are-a_914249.png) > “You have fewer rights because you are a minority. Absolutely, that’s how democracy works.” [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that minority status reduces rights, framing it as a democratic principle. **In simple terms:** Minorities have fewer rights in democracy. Key Takeaway Question democratic fairness. Themes politics rights minority issues Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative reform - civil rights activism - public debate - education campaigns Key Concepts majoritarianism democratic theory Questions to Reflect On - Is democracy truly majoritarian? - How can minorities be protected in a democracy? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex legal protections for minorities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Minority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minority/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [I can't imagine that my children would have fewer rights, and less access to the safest, best health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/i-can-t-imagine-that-my-children-would-have-fewer-rights-and-less/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [What about the majority? I'm so tired of protecting the rights of the minority. What about the rest of the country?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/what-about-the-majority-i-m-so-tired-of-protecting-the-rights-of-the/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [The United States Senate wasn't designed to be a majority-rule institution. It was designed to include and accommodate the rights of the minority in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/the-united-states-senate-wasn-t-designed-to-be-a-majority-rule/) [Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/) > [That's what the Senate is about. It's the last bastion of minority rights, where a minority can be heard, where a minority can stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/that-s-what-the-senate-is-about-it-s-the-last-bastion-of-minority/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [“Man did not enter into society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/man-did-not-enter-into-society-to-become-worse-than-he-was-before-nor/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The thought of someone believing you deserve fewer rights because of who you are is depressing. But then you realize that, by doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-ruffin/the-thought-of-someone-believing-you-deserve-fewer-rights-because-of/) Amber Ruffin > [“It is unusual,” said Cristina, “for a revolution to call for fewer rights for people, not more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-is-unusual-said-cristina-for-a-revolution-to-call-for-fewer-rights/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [No mother in the world wants her daughter to have fewer rights than she did...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/no-mother-in-the-world-wants-her-daughter-to-have-fewer-rights-than/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [But the hard facts were that fifty years of non-violence had brought the African people nothing but more and more repressive legislation, and fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/but-the-hard-facts-were-that-fifty-years-of-non-violence-had-brought/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Make no mistake, to a significant degree we are all victims of religion because we all have fewer rights because of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silverman/make-no-mistake-to-a-significant-degree-we-are-all-victims-of/) [David Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silverman/) > [Man did not enter society to be worse off, or to have fewer rights, but rather to have those rights better secured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/man-did-not-enter-society-to-be-worse-off-or-to-have-fewer-rights-but/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Of course, the aim of a constitutional democracy is to safeguard the rights of the minority and avoid the tyranny of the majority. (p. 102)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/of-course-the-aim-of-a-constitutional-democracy-is-to-safeguard-the/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/individual-rights-are-not-subject-to-a-public-vote-a-majority-has-no/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [When an unpopular minority is denied the right to marry, it is indeed the role of the courts to protect the rights of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/when-an-unpopular-minority-is-denied-the-right-to-marry-it-is-indeed/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [Constitutions are checks upon the hasty action of the majority. They are the self-imposed restraints of a whole people upon a majority of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/constitutions-are-checks-upon-the-hasty-action-of-the-majority-they/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) ## More by Jacob Zuma > [...The people love him. So how can we condemn him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-people-love-him-so-how-can-we-condemn-him/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [There is no cloud above my head - there is not even a mist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/there-is-no-cloud-above-my-head-there-is-not-even-a-mist/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [Me? Well, I don't know, I must go to a dictionary and learn what a crook is. I've never been a crook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/me-well-i-don-t-know-i-must-go-to-a-dictionary-and-learn-what-a-crook/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [The majority in this country have not seen anything wrong with Zuma. I go with the overwhelming feeling of this country. If the majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-majority-in-this-country-have-not-seen-anything-wrong-with-zuma-i/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [The ANC is more important than the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/the-anc-is-more-important-than-the-constitution/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [We are a constitutional democracy. We must deal with things properly within the framework of the law and then the constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/we-are-a-constitutional-democracy-we-must-deal-with-things-properly/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [ Same sex marriage is a disgrace to the nation and to God. When I was growing up, ‘ungqingili’ \[homosexuals in isiZulu\] could not stand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/same-sex-marriage-is-a-disgrace-to-the-nation-and-to-god-when-i-was/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [Africa has decided to take matters of instability into its own hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/africa-has-decided-to-take-matters-of-instability-into-its-own-hands/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [As a citizen of this country, I've got to be honest to the people of South Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/as-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-ve-got-to-be-honest-to-the-people-of/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [African problems should have African solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/african-problems-should-have-african-solutions/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [When I joined the ANC, I never thought I would be anything. In no way, did I say, 'One day I could be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/when-i-joined-the-anc-i-never-thought-i-would-be-anything-in-no-way/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [You don't just end up with freedom when you have the vote. The struggle continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/you-don-t-just-end-up-with-freedom-when-you-have-the-vote-the/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [No one person can be above the ANC. He can't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/no-one-person-can-be-above-the-anc-he-can-t-be/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [We South Africans are also crazy about football, so the World Cup can be nothing but successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/we-south-africans-are-also-crazy-about-football-so-the-world-cup-can/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) > [People are constantly applying double standards. Take the United States, for example. Washington wants the whole world to admire the country for its democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-zuma/people-are-constantly-applying-double-standards-take-the-united/) [Jacob Zuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) [Explore all 65 Jacob Zuma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-zuma/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have fewer rights because you are a minority. 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